Waylon Jennings Waylon & Willie CD

Waylon and Willie have always been a natural fit. They both helped pioneer the Outlaw Country move00nt in the '70s, with a raw, rootsy approach with enough grit to appeal to rockers and hardcore honky-tonkers. While both men are superstars in their own right, their collaborations have endeared them to an even larger audience, and this compilation focuses on some of that partnership's key moments.

The quirky muse of Kris Kristofferson is tapped for the eccentric state-of-the-world tune "The Year 2003 Minus 25" and "Don't Cuss The Fiddle," and the duo pulls off an admirably understated take on "Dock of the Bay." shine here. Classic beer-swigging jukebox staples like "Good Hearted Woman" and "Mammas Don't Let Your Babys Grow Up To Be Cowboys."

It sat on the top of the country charts for 11 weeks and went double platinum, making it one of the biggest hits in either Waylon Jennings' or Willie Nelson's catalog. Years after its initial 1978 release, Waylon & Willie remains one of their biggest-selling albums, but its perennial popularity has more to do with their iconic status -- something this album deliberately played up -- than the quality of the music, which is, overall, merely good. Released in early 1978, a few months after Jennings' Ol' Waylon spent 13 weeks on the top of the charts in the summer of 1977, thanks in part to the hit single "Luckenbach, Texas" featuring a chorus sung by Nelson, the album was intended as a celebration of the peak of outlaw, but in retrospect, it looks like where the movement was beginning to slide into predictability, even if both singers are more or less in command of their talents here. Though still at the peak of his popularity, Waylon had begun to slip slightly creatively starting with the very good, but not great, Are You Ready for the Country, which suggested that he was having a little harder time getting a full album of consistently great material together. The patchwork nature of this album suggests that he still had the problem, but since it was divided into three solo songs apiece and five duets, this plays to his strengths, because the limited number of new songs doesn't give him room to stumble. Though a moody cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Gold Dust Woman" is a little awkward, his original "Lookin' f

Digitally remastered by Mike Hartry (BMG).

Recorded at American Studios, Nashville, Tennessee between August 1977 and November 1977. Originally released on RCA (#2686). Includes liner notes by Rich Kienzle.

Compilation producer: Rob Santos.

Personnel: Waylon Jennings (vocals, guitar, electric guitar); Willie Nelson (vocals, guitar); Gordon Payne (guitar, acoustic guitar, harmonica); Rance Wasson (guitar, acoustic guitar); Reggie Young (guitar, electric guitar); Chips Moman, John Leslie Hug (guitar); Ralph Mooney, Buddy Emmons (steel guitar); Don Brooks (harmonica); Kyle Lehning (trumpet, piano, organ); Dee Moeller, Jessi Colter (piano, organ); Bobby Wood (piano); Barny Robertson, Carter Robertson (organ, keyboards); Bobby Emmons (keyboards); Gene Chrisman (drums, percussion); Ritchie Albright, Eddy Anderson (drums).

Liner Note Author: Rich Kienzle.

Recording information: American Studios, Nashville, TN (10/16/1973-11/??/1977).

Author: Waylon Jennings.

Illustrator: Bill K. Myers.

Photographer: Charlyn Zlotnik.

Personnel includes: Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson (vocals, guitar); Gordon Payne (acoustic & electric guitars, harmonica, background vocals); Rance Wasson (acoustic & electric guitars, background vocals); Reggie Young (eletric guitar); Larry Whitmore, Chips Moman, John Hug, Fred Newell (guitar); Buddy Emmons, Ralph Mooney (steel guitar); Don Brooks (harmonica); Kyle Lehning (trumpet, piano, organ); Dee Moeller (piano, organ); Barny Robertson (organ, keyboards, background vocals); Sherman Hayes, Duke Goff (bass); Richie Albright, Eddy Anderson (drums); Becky Williams, Carter Robertson (background vocals).

Producers: Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Chips Moman, Ken Mansfield.